The little sticker that is causing a world of trouble for Microsoft and Intel. (Source: DailyTech)

Microsoft executive -- "We set ourselves up"

One of the most iconic images of Microsoft's Windows Vista launch in January 2007 was the small "Windows Vista Capable" stickers on computers months before, reassuring customers that when the new operating system came out, their computers could be updated to the latest and greatest. Unfortunately for the consumer it appears that the capabilities that these stickers promised were intentionally exaggerated to benefit Microsoft and chipmaker Intel.

A class action suit filed against Microsoft in April 2007 accused Microsoft of intentionally misleading consumers with the stickers, claiming the "Vista Capable" logos on computers that were anything but. The suit centered around several key points, among which was that the computers sold could not run Windows Vista's more impressive features such as the Aero user interface, and were left with only a bare-bones skeleton of Vista. The suit forced Microsoft to redefine its definition of what exactly "Vista Capable" meant, which included Microsoft's addition of a disclaimer that some of the PCs bearing the sticker could not run significant Vista features such as Aero.

Meanwhile, the legal case proceeded forward. Armed with internal emails obtained from Microsoft, the plaintiffs, represented by high-power attorney Jeffrey Tilden of Gordon Tilden Thomas & Cordell, took their case before a U.S. District Judge in order to gain class action status. In a significant victory for the plaintiffs U.S. District Judge Marsha Pechman granted the case class action status, with the primary focus being to determine whether Microsoft intentionally deceived consumers to sell PCs. The judge also opened the door for the suit to also encompass gripes about the lack of Aero if the plaintiffs found another named plaintiff who bough Vista but was unable to run Aero.

Some of these emails featured Microsoft employees candidly describing the program with, "Even a piece of junk will qualify" for "Vista Capable" designation. The now famous email from Mike Nash, currently a corporate vice president for Windows product management, states, "I PERSONALLY got burnt ... Are we seeing this from a lot of customers? ... I now have a $2,100 e-mail machine."

Less dramatic, but equally damaging was the email from Jim Allchin, then the co-president of Microsoft's Platforms and Services Division, stating grimly, "We really botched this ... You guys have to do a better job with our customers."

The most interesting emails though, turn out to be the new ones. While a number of key portions of several emails were redacted, the parts that remain paint a picture of intentional deception that Microsoft virtually admitted to in the internal emails.

In the emails Microsoft executives discuss how the Intel 915 Chipset was to initially be deemed incompatible Windows Vista. The policy was abruptly reversed. Says one of the executives in charge of the decision, "In the end, we lowered the requirements to help Intel make their
quarterly earnings so they could continue to sell motherboards with the
915 graphics embedded. We are caving to Intel. We worked the last 18 months to drive the [user interface] experience and we are giving this up."
This admission is extremely significant as it precisely describes what was alleged by the class action suit. Microsoft will have to fight an uphill battle to prove that its employees' email correspondence was inaccurate and misleading.

Other emails make it clear that retailers had voiced frustrations with Microsoft, and were met with stubborn resistance from Microsoft executives due to the policy, which aimed to underhandedly pump up Intel's chipset sales. Says one Microsoft executive, guiltily, "I was in Best Buy listening to people and can tell you this did not come clear to customers. We set ourselves up."

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I agree. This is complete crap. Folks it doesn't say "Vista Fully Capable" does it? No. Wah wah wah, I can't use the Aero feature. Get real. It says "Vista Capable"That in itself should raise a brow and lead to research. Do your research then you will know what to expect. The Vista Capable sticker is all about running the core features.

Specifically, it didn't say "Vista Premium Ready" -- the stickers that were on the machines sitting right next to those that said "Capable" and were clearly higher-spec and only a complete idiot would have missed it.

MS Did just about everything possible to make it clear to people that Premium Ready meant Aero-ready, and "Capable" meant Basic-ready.

Now, this Intel 915 chipset memo gives a case ot the idiots, which is sad.

A final point, which may seem to contradict some of the above. Aero _is_ an important feature of Vista. It's not the transparency of windows, which is a by-product of the real feature: Desktop Compositing and virtualization of the GPU. This allows for a lower CPU cost when drawing, a more responsive UI, no more windows that have garbage contents if they are stalling, greater numbers of apps using 3d rendering at once, and a host of other graphical improvements beyond translucent borders. I would never buy a computer that was only capable of running Vista Basic. Of course, my Desktop purchased in late 2005 and my Laptop purchased in September of 2006 run Vista Aero just fine, so I'm clearly in the minority of computer purchasers.

quote: Specifically, it didn't say "Vista Premium Ready" -- the stickers that were on the machines sitting right next to those that said "Capable" and were clearly higher-spec and only a complete idiot would have missed it.

You sir are likely not an idiot, and I am not an idiot. I am assuming that you, like me, have put a lot of time and effort into an excellent hobby. However, you are overlooking the fact that there are a lot of fellow un-idiots who know next to nothing about computers. They are uninterested in said hobby, and all they see is meaningless numbers and a higher price. Furthermore, in a similarly price-minded fashion, they are sure-as-hell not going to pay for Windows Vista Ultimate, so all they are interested in is the "Vista Capable" sticker.

quote: Of course, my Desktop purchased in late 2005 and my Laptop purchased in September of 2006 run Vista Aero just fine, so I'm clearly in the minority of computer purchasers.

Yes, because you understand the impact of the extra hundred(s) spent for a discreet GPU.

quote: Do your research then you will know what to expect. The Vista Capable sticker is all about running the core features.

That's why there are salesmen at the stores. Chances are great that mom & pop aren't as savvy as you. They walked into a store, saw the sale prices and then the salesman steered them to the "Vista Capable" machine because it is the latest and greatest. Just like Blu-Ray, just like LCD HD TVs, just like refrigerators. The idfference is they are able to see what the TV and refrigerator look like but they couldn't see what their computer would look like. Why? Because the product wasn't out. One therefore bought the hardware on promises and expectations.